Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Mets – Chase Burns vs. Tobias Myers

The Cincinnati Reds are back in action on Monday night in Great American Ball Park after dropping Sunday’s series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. That loss canned the series for them, and they’ve now dropped five straight series overall as their precipitous fall down the NL Central standings continues.

They’ll look to get back on the winning side of things with Chase Burns on the mound, as he’ll fire the first pitch of tonight’s series opener against the New York Mets. Righty Tobias Myers – a reliever by trade – will be the nominal starter for the Mets this evening, though given he’s only topped 36 pitches once all season it will undoubtedly be an early bullpen game for New York.

The Mets come to town fresh off a series victory over the Atlanta Braves, so that’s fun.

First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET this time around, and the game will be televised on Reds.TV and MLB.tv.

Lineups for both clubs are listed below. Go Reds!

Today’s Lineups

METSREDS
Carson Benge – RFBlake Dunn – CF
Bo Bichette – SSJJ Bleday – LF
Juan Soto – LFSal Stewart – DH
Jared Young – 1BSpencer Steer – 1B
A.J. Ewing – CFEugenio Suarez – 3B
Marcus Semien – 2BNoelvi Marte – RF
Brett Baty – 3BMatt McLain – SS
MJ Melendez – DHTyler Stephenson – C
Francisco Alvarez – CEdwin Arroyo – 2B
Tobias Myers – RHPChase Burns – RHP

Jose Alvarado’s high school coach lauds ‘loyal’ Knicks champion: ‘Proud is an understatement’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Jose Alvarado of the New York Knicks holding the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy with a flag draped over his shoulder, Image 2 shows Basketball player in a white jersey with

The Knicks’ first NBA championship in 53 years had a local flavor.

Traded deadline acquisition Jose Alvarado, a Brooklyn native, offered his Christ the King in Middle Village, Queens coach a moment of reflection nearly a decade after the freshly minted champ played for him.

“I wasn’t thinking in this picture that Alvarado would one day win an NBA Championship. I was probably telling him to stop sneaking into the corner and get back on defense,” Joe Arbitello wrote on Instagram. “Proud is an understatement. This kid is a product of doing things the right way.”

Jose Alvarado holds the NBA Finals trophy draped in a Puerto Rican flag. Getty Images

Arbitello described some of the characteristics that make Alvarado such a successful player, noting his loyalty was notable, as he stayed at Christ the King and played for just one AAU team throughout his amateur career in what is a rarity, especially in this era.

The loyalty extended to his college decision, as he picked and stuck with Georgia Tech for his entire college career.

Another trait described by Arbitello was that whenever he was on the bench, Alvardo was always engaged in the game and never moped.

The coach recalled the young point guard telling him from the bench that he was “getting paid to have the best seat in the house.”

Jose Alvarado in Game 5 of the NBA Finals NBAE via Getty Images

That quote proved somewhat prophetic as Alvarado became one of the Knicks’ first bench options after coming over from the Pelicans on Feb. 5.

His addition proved critical to the team’s championship run as he drained critical three-pointers during comebacks in Games 4 and 5 and gave star Jalen Brunson crucial rest by playing quality minutes. 

Now, Christ the King, which boasts the likes of Lamar Odom, Jayson Williams, Speedy Claxton, Sue Bird, Chamique Holdsclaw and Tina Charles among its alumni, has another NBA champion among its graduates.

Flyers Predicted To Select 6-Foot-4 Center With First-Round Pick

The Athletic released their latest 2026 NHL Mock Draft, where several of their writers predicted the first round. When it came to the Philadelphia Flyers' first-round pick, Kevin Kurz predicted that the Flyers would select center Maddox Dagenais.

Dagenais would be a fascinating prospect for the Flyers to add to their system. The 6-foot-4 center has the potential to become an impactful player in the NHL and would give the Flyers another promising center prospect, which is a need. 

Dagenais just had a strong season in the QMJHL with the Quebec Remparts. In 62 games with the QMJHL club, the Montreal native posted 30 goals, 32 assists, and 62 points. This is after he had 12 goals and 26 points in 43 games with the Remparts during the 2024-25 season.

Overall, Dagenais has shown promise at the junior level and could be some consideration if he is available when the Flyers are on the clock. However, when noting that he is a big center with good upside, it is certainly possible that another club could take him before it is the Flyers' turn to select. 

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Flyers end up making Dagenais their first-round pick at the draft this year. The fit looks strong on paper. 

Dan Patrick unloads on Victor Wembanyama after Spurs’ Finals defeat: ‘Petty’

Dan Patrick, Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Brunson
Dan Patrick, Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Brunson

The New York Knicks waited 53 years to raise another championship banner. When the moment finally arrived Saturday night, Jalen Brunson delivered the type of performance that cements legacies.

Victor Wembanyama, meanwhile, left many talking about something entirely different.

Dan Patrick praised Jalen Brunson and blasted Victor Wembanyama after the NBA Finals. Getty Images

Following New York’s five-game NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs, longtime broadcaster Dan Patrick offered a blunt assessment of how the two superstars handled the spotlight.

“I think Wemby got exposed in a variety of ways here,” Patrick said. “I think he came off as petty. I think he came off occasionally as a guy who would give a cheap shot. I didn’t like sort of how he ended the series. Go find Jalen Brunson. I mean, Jalen Brunson was all class.”

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson holds the MVP trophy after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Patrick’s criticism stems less from Wembanyama’s performance and more from how he carried himself during the series.

The Spurs star faced scrutiny for several heated exchanges with Knicks players, including Mitchell Robinson, a controversial shove on Jalen Brunson and criticism after leaving the floor without the same visible postgame sportsmanship that Brunson displayed.

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama sits on the floor after a foul during the second half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the New York Knicks AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

While many viewed those moments as the frustration of a 22-year-old superstar learning on the biggest stage, Patrick saw them as signs that Wembanyama’s maturity and leadership still have room to grow.

To Patrick, the contrast with Brunson could not have been sharper.

As the final seconds ticked away in New York’s 94-90 championship-clinching victory, Brunson first sought out Spurs coach Mitch Johnson for a handshake before joining his teammates in celebration. It was a small gesture, but one that reinforced the reputation Brunson has built throughout his rise from overlooked free agent signing to Finals MVP.

NBAE via Getty Images

The Knicks star backed up that sportsmanship with one of the greatest championship performances in franchise history. Brunson scored 45 points in Game 5, tying Michael Jordan for the most points ever scored on the road in a Finals-clinching victory. He finished the series averaging 32.6 points and earned a unanimous Finals MVP vote.

Wembanyama’s production was impressive as well. The 22-year-old averaged 27.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks during the series while leading San Antonio to the Finals in just his third NBA season.

But several analysts pointed to flaws in his offensive game that became apparent late in the series. Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor noted Wembanyama’s struggles creating his own shot, his tendency to settle for jumpers and moments where veteran Knicks center Mitchell Robinson physically overwhelmed him around the basket.

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) speaks to the media after the New York Knicks defeat the Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images

None of that changes Wembanyama’s enormous long-term potential. He finished third in MVP voting and helped guide the Spurs to 62 wins and a Western Conference title.

Still, as Patrick noted, the Finals became a reminder that talent alone isn’t enough.

Brunson left the series with a championship, a Finals MVP trophy and praise for his leadership.

Wembanyama left with valuable lessons and a long offseason to answer the criticism.

To his credit, Wemby recognizes this as a time of learning, despite not currently understanding what lessons he is learning;

“This is the biggest lesson of my life, the biggest learning moment, Wembanyama said during the post-game press conference. “I can’t tell you exactly what the lesson is. But we’re learning from that. I’m learning more than any other time in my life.”

The NSFW sacrifice James Dolan joked about with players in his pre-playoff meeting with the team

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A man with gray hair and a beard, wearing a dark jacket and pants, sits on a bench while holding papers and gesturing, Image 2 shows New York Knicks owner James Dolan and president Leon Rose lift the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy

Knicks owner James Dolan’s joke about giving up sex during the NBA playoffs has been revealed.

“I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for the next 10 weeks,” Dolan told the Knicks before the playoffs on Apr. 3. “You don’t have to give up sex for the next 10 weeks, but like Spartans — do you know what Spartans are? — they denied themselves to gain an edge. Get the edge.”

The joke was part of a 15-minute surprise speech Dolan gave to the Knicks about making sacrifices to end the Knicks’ 53-year title drought.

Knicks owner James Dolan gives a speech before the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Dolan, who oversaw the Knicks in 1999, told players to tell their significant others and family members about the commitment they would bring to the NBA Finals and that they, too, would need to make sacrifices to win.

“Go home, talk to your wives. Don’t tell them you’re not going to have sex, and don’t tell them it was my idea,” Dolan said. “But let them know what this is going to be like, what your commitment is going to be like.”

According to SNY, the players “were a little surprised, but the words hit.”

They were certainly memorable to at least some of them as Mikal Bridges referenced the no-sex joke during an Instagram live on Monday, calling Dolan a “savage” for the gag.

New York Knicks owner James Dolan and president Leon Rose lift the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. Getty Images

Two months removed from the speech, the sacrifices the Knicks made paid off, as they won their first NBA Finals since 1953.

“Hey, New York, I’m sorry it took so long, but here we are, and hopefully it won’t take that long again,” Dolan said.

Atlanta Braves off day chat and discussion: June 15

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 14: Carles Puyol poses with FIFA World Cup Trophy before the game between the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 14, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today is a much-needed off day for the Braves, who are back in Atlanta and hoping to get things back on track with a win tomorrow against the Giants. They got some, well, mixed news with Spencer Strider’s evaluation, as he’s been shut down for a month and will be reevaluated further. We did get some good news about Drake Baldwin so things may be looking up much sooner rather than later for the first-place Braves.

What I’m Watching

I’m not going to lie (and you probably guessed this from the featured image): I will be watching the World Cup this evening. If you’re insistent on watching baseball, though, there’s a good hate-watch opportunity going on this evening as the Marlins and Phillies will be locking horns. For the sake of the standings I think we all wouldn’t mind a Marlins win but either way, we all win when an NL East team loses so if that’s your choice then enjoy the hate-watch.

There are some intriguing matchups going on out West, though. It’s pretty interesting to see the Pirates and the A’s both being not-terrible this deep into the season and it’ll be very interesting to see how OaklandSacramentoLasVegas the A’s bounce back after getting walloped for 23 runs on Sunday against the Rockies.

Meanwhile, the Rays and the Dodgers will be locking horns on ESPN so that oughta be interesting off of the records alone. Can the Rays go into Dodger Stadium and lay down a marker of intent? Will the Dodgers bring back memories of 2020 with their performance tonight? We’ll see what happens.

For now, I hope everybody enjoys their evening, no matter if you’re watching baseball, soccer, or some show you’ve watched 3850 times already.

Jalen Brunson, the Knicks and fans toast title and blast Wemby

Apparently, Jalen Brunson, the Knicks, and New York fans were not done with Victor Wembanyama.

Less than 24 hours after they beat Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs for their first NBA Championship in 53 years, they were celebrating at Fishfly, a private Manhattan club, Page Six reported. Video from @SMHighlights1 shows The NBA Finals MVP with teammates, family, friends and fans raising a glass with the salute of "(Expletive) Wemby!"

Knicks fans had been saying it for a week.

They started in Game 3 on June 8 after Wembanyama shoved Brunson in the back of the head and pushed him toward the floor with no whistle. Late in the second quarter, when Karl-Anthony Towns was at the line, "(Expletive) you Wemby" rolled down from the Madison Square Garden upper decks and onto the broadcast. The league looked at the shove later and called it a foul, not a flagrant.

Game 5 gave New Yorkers even more fuel to the fire.

Brunson rose for a 3-pointer in the third quarter. Wembanyama closed in, stuck a foot under him, and Brunson came down on top of it. No call. The Knicks bench came unglued at the officials. Had it gone down as a flagrant, however, Wembanyama would have been hit with an automatic suspension and would have missed a possible Game 6.

It didn't matter in the final score. Knicks won 94-90 in San Antonio. Brunson dropped 45, and the Knicks were celebrating their first title since 1973.

Wembanyama didn't hang around to see it. He walked straight off the floor and into the tunnel, looking to forget the Spurs' collapse.

The Knicks and New York will not let him forget.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jalen Brunson, Knicks and fans crush Wemby at party

Former Sharks Come Up Short in Bid For Stanley Cup

For the second time in their careers, former San Jose Sharks forwards Tomas Hertl and Joel Ward were defeated in the Stanley Cup Final while members of the same organization. 

The Vegas Golden Knights were defeated 3-0 on home ice by the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday night, which clinched the Hurricanes their second-ever Stanley Cup, winning the series 4-2. 

Hertl gave everything he had in a bid to finally win the trophy that has eluded him throughout his entire career, but it wasn't enough. He scored two goals, including the game-winner in Game 1, and totaled four points in the six-game series against Carolina. 

Meanwhile, Ward was doing the same behind the bench, serving as one of John Tortorella's assistant coaches. 

Both players were members of the 2015-16 Sharks team that made it to the Stanley Cup Final, only to be defeated by Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sharks alumnus Adin Hill was also on the Golden Knights roster, but was sitting on the sideline as Tortorella stuck with Carter Hart despite his massive struggles during the series. Unlike the other two though, Hill has already won a Stanley Cup, getting to lift the trophy following the 2022-23 season when he went on a tremendous run during the playoffs.

Both Hertl and Ward will have to wait at least another season to lift the Cup. Hertl is running out of time to do so during his playing career, but Ward is just starting out as a coach, so he has plenty of time.

Walker Duehr Staying in Winnipeg After Jets Lock Up Depth Forward to Two-Year, Two-Way Deal

On Monday, the Winnipeg Jets locked up a key piece of their organizational depth, re-signing forward Walker Duehr to a two-year, two-way contract carrying a $875,000 cap hit.

The deal keeps the 28-year-old in the Jets system through the foreseeable future and rewards a player who has quietly carved out a reliable role as one of the more productive forwards on the Manitoba Moose roster.

Duehr did get a brief look at the NHL level this past season, suiting up for three games with the Jets without registering a point. The bulk of his year was spent where he has consistently proven his value, in the AHL, where he put together a solid campaign of 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points across 62 games with the Moose.

The Sioux Falls, South Dakota native has taken a well-travelled road to get to this point. After playing college hockey at Minnesota State Mankato, Duehr broke into professional hockey with the Calgary Flames organization, going on to appear in 84 NHL games across four seasons while recording 19 points.

He was a more consistent presence with the AHL Calgary Wranglers during that stretch before being dealt to the San Jose Sharks ahead of the 2024-25 season. With San Jose, he played eight games at the NHL level while spending the majority of his time with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda before eventually finding his way to Winnipeg.

His AHL resume now stands at 59 goals and 53 assists for 112 points over 205 contests, numbers that reflect a player who has found his level and thrived within it. Duehr profiles as a flexible, dependable depth forward who brings the kind of professionalism and versatility that AHL rosters are built around. While a regular NHL role may not be in the cards, he remains a legitimate call-up option should injuries create openings on the main club.

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Raptors fans say RJ Barrett should stay, team needs new big man

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 17: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates his basket with teammate Jakob Poeltl #19 during second half action against the Charlotte Hornets at Scotiabank Arena on November 17, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s no secret that the Raptors’ roster has been a contentious topic since the rebuild began in 2024. Bringing on Brandon Ingram has just added more fuel to that fire, with his playoff woes and Toronto’s loss in Game 7 of the first round solidifying the idea that while the Raptors are on the right track, they don’t quite have it all together yet.

The position of RJ Barrett within the team has also been complicated. Taking over as the first option for a chunk of the 2024-25 season with Scottie Barnes out, Barrett was relegated to the third option this year with the arrival of ball-dominant scorer Ingram. However, his playoff rising and the shot heard around the world has caused fans to re-evaluate his position within the roster.

An SB Nation poll showed that above half of Raptors fans feel that RJ Barrett has finally won himself some stability in the Raptors’ organization. With only one more year left on his contract, Barrett’s flexibility had contributed to his position as an important piece in trade talks. But, it seems that the Toronto faithful feel that Barrett should remain on his hometown team as a part of the team’s core, gearing up for next season.

The upcoming campaign has also attracted attention for its high-profile draft class. While the Raptors have only the 19th pick in the draft, Toronto fans are split on whether to focus on acquiring a new big man, or to add more depth to the point guard position.

Jakob Poeltl’s struggles this year have caused a clamouring for the Raptors to bring in someone new at the 5, and SB Nation readers echo this sentiment with their poll responses.

While so much about next season is yet undetermined fans have made their voices heard ahead of the late June draft, where odds for who will get drafted where can be found on FanDuel.

Spurs, Thunder Open as 2027 Title Cofavorites, Knicks Sit 4th

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Newly released 2027 NBA championship odds have the runner-up San Antonio Spurs as the co-favorites with the 2025 champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Key Takeaways

  • The Spurs and Thunder have a combined near-60% probability of winning the Finals.

  • The Celtics are listed ahead of the Knicks as the Eastern Conference favorites.

  • Since 2018, no team has won the championship more than once.

The Thunder and the Spurs spent the majority of 2026 as the championship odds leaders. The Spurs' seven-game upset of the reigning champions in the Western Conference finals made them the heavy favorites over the New York Knicks before the Finals, but they lost in five games.

FanDuel’s +250 odds imply that both teams have a 28.5% chance of lifting the next Larry O’Brien Trophy. This marks the first time since the 2012-13 season that two teams have opened at +250 or shorter, when the Miami Heat and Thunder had the same odds, according to Sports Odds History

Interestingly, the Spurs and Thunder both play in the Western Conference. The teams inherently reduce each other's chances of winning the title because only one can reach the Finals.

The 2023-24 champion Boston Celtics are third in title odds at +600 (14.3% chance). NBA analysts Bill Simmons and Marc Stein reported that two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo could be on his way to helping them in their championship pursuit.

It’s common for league champions to open as favorites in futures markets for the following season. However, the Knicks - whose 13-game winning streak set the second-longest mark in a single postseason - are only fourth at +750 (11.8% chance). Those odds are longer than the +700 price at which they opened last season, per Sports Odds History.

Odds, trends

NBA conference odds also project two-horse races in the East and the West.

In the Western Conference, the Thunder (+140) have a very small advantage over the Spurs (+145). The combined implied probability of those two outcomes is 82.5%, meaning that nearly five times out of six, either one of these teams should win the conference.

The Celtics (+210) lead the Eastern Conference in futures odds, just ahead of the Knicks (+260). The combined implied probability is a hair over 60%, or three-in-five.

Only one other team in either conference has odds in the triple digits; the Detroit Pistons, the East's best team in the regular season, are listed at +900.

The NBA is riding an eight-year streak without a repeat champion. It hasn’t had a back-to-back conference winner during that time either, and only three teams - the Celtics, Heat, and Golden State Warriors - won their respective conference twice.

If bettors assume the streak of new champions continues, the NBA championship odds favorite would be the Pistons (+2,500).

The Minnesota Timberwolves (+3,300), Pacers (+3,500), and Cleveland Cavaliers (+3,500) would be next in line. Any one of those teams winning the Finals would mark the longest preseason underdog champion since the 2014-15 Warriors (+2,800).

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The championship ring promise James Dolan made to Knicks in pre-playoff speech

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Knicks guard Jalen Brunson hugs his wife, Ali, after the team's NBA championship win on June 13, 2026, Image 2 shows Knicks owner James Dolan gives a speech to the team on April 3, 2026

James Dolan is recognizing the contributions of the Knicks’ significant others.

The Knicks owner spoke to his team on April 3 before their playoff run that ended Saturday with a 94-90 win over the Spurs that clinched the team’s first championship since 1973.

At the time, Dolan assured his players that, should the Knicks bring home the championship, their significant others will also be receiving championship rings in recognition for their contributions and support to the team.

Knicks owner James Dolan gives a speech to the team on April 3, 2026.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson hugs his wife, Ali, after the team’s NBA championship win on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / NY Post

“When we win the championship, we will get rings. When we get rings, so will they,” Dolan told his team.

“I will buy a ring for each one of your significant others, because their contributions are very important to this team win.”

Dolan had jokes too.

“If you don’t have a significant other, most of you do, find someone that you’re sharing this journey with for the next 10 weeks,” Dolan said, which was met with laughs from around the room.

New York Knicks owner James Dolan and president Leon Rose celebrate behind the Larry O’Brien trophy after their team defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. Getty Images
New York Knicks owner James Dolan celebrates with his team after becoming the 2026 NBA Finals Champions. Jason Szenes for NY Post

When the Knicks won their championship on Saturday, Dolan, who has owned the team since 1999, addressed Knicks fans everywhere with an apology.

“Hey, New York, I’m sorry it took so long,” Dolan said as the team was presented with the Larry O’Brien trophy, its first in 53 years. “But here we are, and hopefully it won’t take that long again. Yeah!”

After falling behind 2-1 in their first-round series against the Hawks, the Knicks reeled off 13 straight wins and lost just once in that span on their way to defeating the Spurs 4-1 in the Finals.

The Knicks finished the playoffs with a point differential of +283, the biggest in NBA history.

Drake Baldwin reinstated, Austin Wynns outrighted to Triple-A

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 16: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after hitting a home run in the first inning during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park on May 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Rejoice, one and all. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year returns.

Sensing we needed some good news after the recent skid and mixed Spencer Strider update, the Braves have made an off-day move to reinstate Drake Baldwin from the IL and outright Austin Wynns to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Baldwin went down on May 19 with a strained right oblique. Sent on his rehab assignment on June 13, he played one (1) rain-delayed game in Jacksonville for the Stripers and went 1-for-3 with a solo homer. “That’s enough, bring him back,” we all joked. But the Braves clearly agreed.

Baldwin’s rehab homer made his hit total the exact same as Austin Wynns’ in his six games / 14 at-bats with the Braves. That lone hit was a single in the extra-innings loss in Chicago last week.

Baldwin is also in first place in NL All-Star voting for catchers in the first batch of votes released today. He’s poised to make and start his first All-Star game. As much as “Send your Braves to Philly” sounds like a threat, make sure you’re voting for Drake and the Braves 5x a day at braves.com/vote.

What's the latest on Giannis and Jaylen? O'Connor offers insight

What's the latest on Giannis and Jaylen? O'Connor offers insight originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Milwaukee Bucks are widely expected to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo sometime in the next week. According to several recent reports, the Boston Celtics are frontrunners to land the two-time NBA MVP.

By all accounts, Antetokounmpo is intrigued by the idea of playing in Boston, but acquiring him would almost certainly require the C’s parting ways with 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown. It likely wouldn’t be a simple swap between Boston and Milwaukee, however.

“Giannis wants to win. What team offers him the best opportunity to win? In all likelihood, the Boston Celtics,” Yahoo Sports’ NBA insider Kevin O’Connor said on Monday’s Early Edition. “It’s just going to be a matter of, can the Celtics find an appropriate third team to land Jaylen Brown?

“It seems like all indications are the Milwaukee Bucks don’t want Jaylen Brown as their key return. They’d rather have a haul of picks, multiple pieces, rather than just Jaylen Brown. I doubt Jaylen Brown would even want Milwaukee either at this point in his career. He wants to win somewhere else.”

The Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, and Los Angeles Clippers have often been mentioned as potential partners for Milwaukee and Boston in a three-team deal. Boston would get Antetokounmpo, the third team would get Brown, and Milwaukee would get draft capital and young pieces to help jumpstart its rebuild.

The Miami Heat have also reportedly been in the mix to acquire Antetokounmpo. Wherever the 10-time All-Star goes, the team that lands him will still have work to do.

“It can’t be just Giannis. There would have to be more moves to follow,” O’Connor said. “So I think for the Celtics, if they get Giannis, it’s going to be a matter of, what’s next after that? What other moves are going to completely shake up this roster?”

The Celtics’ roster might get shaken up even if they don’t end up with Antetokounmpo. O’Connor believes president of basketball operations Brad Stevens could move a disgruntled Brown in a different deal.

“I can’t imagine (Brown would) be too happy going back to Boston if they don’t end up landing Giannis Antetokounmpo,” he said. “So I’d imagine that Brad Stevens has at least a Plan B or a Plan C here to flip Jaylen Brown somewhere else for parts. I don’t know what exactly it would be, though.

“The New Orleans package with Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, and whatever other pieces, I think, is pretty intriguing with what they could do in (Joe) Mazzulla’s system alongside Jayson Tatum. I think those are winning players that have just been stuck on a losing team.”

Brown and Antetokounmpo are set to make $57 million and $58 million next season, respectively. Tatum will also make $58 million.

Antetokounmpo, who has a $63 million player option for 2026-27, would be eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension six months after being traded. As enticing as it is to put him alongside Tatum for the next several seasons, the new collective bargaining agreement makes it difficult to sustain success with multiple expensive superstars.

“Look, the fact is it’s hard to win with two players making $60-plus million. That’s true with Giannis plus Tatum, it’s true with Brown plus Tatum,” O’Connor said.

“We’ve seen the formula in recent years. The Knicks just won the title with a team that played one through 11 sometimes. Last year, OKC vs. Indiana, two teams that were very deep. Boston the year prior was very deep. With a new collective bargaining agreement, perhaps having one superstar-level player surrounded by good players might be the way forward.”

Whether it’s to Boston, Miami, or elsewhere, Antetokounmpo is expected to be moved before the NBA Draft on June 23.

Watch the Early Edition segment in the video player above.

Sharks Even With Toronto, Pittsburgh in BetMGM's 2027 Stanley Cup Odds

The San Jose Sharks are going to have to do quite a bit of work to make themselves Stanley Cup contenders in the near future, that's no secret at this point. Oddsmakers clearly agree, as BetMGM's odds for the 2027 Stanley Cup winner placed the Sharks 20th out of 32 teams, on par with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins at +6000.

Considering the Penguins made the playoffs last season, being on equal footing with them is a step in the right direction for the Sharks. With that being said, the lowest rated Western Conference playoff team from last season is the Los Angeles Kings with a +3500, meaning the odds aren't in the Sharks' favor when it comes to even making the playoffs.

The five teams with the best odds to win the Stanley Cup next season are, unsurprisingly, the Colorado Avalanche (+700), Carolina Hurricanes (+750), Vegas Golden Knights (+1000), Edmonton Oilers (+1100), and the Florida Panthers (+1100).

Once the Sharks prove that they have what it takes to make it to the playoffs, it likely won't take long to see their odds move toward the best in the NHL. With that being said, Mike Grier has a lot of work to do to reach that stage.